Depression decisions — 2016

The Board finds that the reductions of the Veteran's disability ratings for depression and chronic prostatitis were not warranted as there is no evidence showing sustained material improvement under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a new VA examination of his psychiatric disorder. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD were not incurred in service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and panic disorder. The Board found that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), was rated at 50 percent prior to September 16, 2015, and increased to 70 percent thereafter. The claim for TDIU is granted from February 9, 2003, forward.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and PTSD have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an anxiety disorder and finds that a current disability is related to active service. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are not service connected.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, has been granted service connection. The initial rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia was increased to 30 percent but the appeal is denied for a higher rating. Service connection for skin disability (tinea pedis of the feet, dermatitis and eczema of hands and arms) has been granted but not at a higher than 10 percent level.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to clarify the nature of his psychiatric and eye conditions, including whether he was exposed to gas chambers during service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, arthritis, and acquired psychiatric disorder other than depression are all found to be related to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the Veteran, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is etiologically related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma, bilateral hearing loss, and low back disorder are not related to his military service. The psychiatric disorder is also denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, clarifying his employment history since March 2014, and providing a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder results in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has not resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating higher than the current 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current TBI and psychiatric disorders are related to his service, including multiple in-service head injuries. The claim for a neck injury is also remanded.